Maya S. Krishnan is an Indian actress known for her work in the Tamil film industry. She made her acting debut in the musical film Vaanavil Vaazhkai (2015). In 2023 she participated in Bigg Boss 7 as a contestant and emerged as the 2nd runner up.
Beyond her film career, she is a theatre artist who has performed internationally with companies including Theatre du Soleil in Paris, Les Hommes Approximatifs in Strasbourg, and Amares Theatre in Uruguay.
Recognizing the need for a creative home for theatre artists, Maya Krishnan founded Ilulu, a theatre collective dedicated to nurturing artistic expression and fostering performance opportunities. The collective serves as a supportive community where artists can explore theatrical forms while developing creative practices and connections with audiences.
She has also gained popularity on YouTube for her character "Manjula Teacher," whose sketch comedy videos on topics like mental health and dating apps have gone viral.
Maya has a background in theatre, having performed internationally with companies such as Theatre du Soleil in Paris[1] and Les Hommes Approximatifs in Strasbourg. In Uruguay, she has collaborated extensively with Amares Theatre. In India, she has been associated with Perch Collective, Indianostrum Theatre, Silkroute theatre, and Adishakthi Theatre.
| Theatre | Play | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Perch | Ki Ra Kozhambu[2] | 100 shows |
| Perch | Birds | |
| Amares theatro | Love All | |
| Silkroute | The Little Prince | 45 shows |
| Indianostrum | Hinge yellama | |
| Indianostrum | Boys drama company | |
| Indianostrum | Flying chariot | |
| Indianostrum | School for wives | |
| Silkroute | A pair of wings I wish for | 13 shows |
| The Perch | Kindhan Charithiram[3] | 47 shows |
Maya, as part of the perch theatre group, toured various cities performing the stage play Kira Kozhambu along with Ravindra Vijay and Anand Sami. They have done almost 100 performances across the country so far.[4] The play solely featured the three actors and a bench.[4][5] The play was based on Ki. Rajanarayanan's collection of short stories titled Nattuppura Kadhai Kalanjiyam with Anandsami reprising his role from the original play.[6] A critic stated that "Actors Anand Sami, Maya S. Krishnan and Ravindra Vijay were in their elements with their seamless blend of art and entertainment".[4]
Maya has demonstrated a flair through her work with string puppets in the production of "The Little Prince" at Silk Route Theatre. For this show, she utilized puppets that are approximately 70 years old,[7] reclaimed from a village near Pondicherry. Mastering the art of puppetry, they skillfully manipulated these historic puppets to bring characters to life on stage.
For the Boys Drama Company production, she learned Devarattam, a traditional folk dance of Tamil Nadu.
Maya debuted in James Vasanthan's Vaanavil Vaazhkai, where she had to cut her hair short to play a singer.[8][9] She played a reporter in Thodari (2016) and also appeared in movies like Dhruva Natchathiram, 2.0, Magalir Mattum and Server Sundaram.[10][11] Maya is part of Lokesh Cinematic Universe.
She volunteers at several hospitals, including APPOLO Madurai, Egmore Children’s Hospital, Adyar Cancer Institute, and Kauvery Hospital.[12]
Maya began her career in comedy as a member of Half Boiled Inc, the first-ever improv club in South India. Her time with Half Boiled Inc allowed them to hone her improvisational skills and establish a strong foundation in comedic performance. She specialized in social media sketch comedy.
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Vaanavil Vaazhkai | Swetha | |
| 2016 | Thodari | News Reporter | |
| 2017 | Server Sundaram | Unknown | Unreleased |
| Magalir Mattum | Ameena | ||
| Velaikkaran | Actress | ||
| My Son Is Gay | Maya | ||
| 2018 | Yenda Thalaiyila Yenna Vekkala | Dora | |
| 2.0 | Student | Uncredited | |
| 2022 | Vikram | Maya | |
| 2023 | Leo | Maya | |
| Dhruva Natchathiram | Unknown | Unreleased | |
| 2024 | Weapon | Akira | |
| 2025 | Fighter Raja | Lucky | Telugu film[13] |
| Year | Program | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Time Enna Boss | Velleli | Amazon Prime | Special appearance[14] |
| 2021 | LOL - Enga Siri Paappom | Maya | [15][16] | |
| 2022 | 3BHK | Anjana V | YouTube | [17] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MONTAGE (21 Days Of Solitude) | [18] |
| 2020 | Maya Unleashed | India’s first-ever female action short film[citation needed] |
In 2023, she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss (Tamil season 7) and became the second runner-up. Maya became one of season's most popular contestants, earning a dedicated fandom known as "Maya Squad".[19]
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | Bigg Boss 7 | Contestant | Vijay TV | 2nd Runner Up |
